Hi Ken,

Just a quick comment on access to e-strategies documents.

Most governments, especially in Africa, do not have policies and strategies for managing and sharing digital documents. This is one major reason why even though many may have e-strategies in place, it is difficult to lay our hands on them. The situation is made worse by the fact that only limited copies of these doucments are printed and in most cases for limited distribution. 

In my work, among others, I am also focusing on providng technical suppoort to Ministries of Agriculture to enable them develop policies and strategies for information management and knowedge exchange in a digital environment. 

Regards,

Justin

Hi Mawaki,

Unfortunately, I have not yet come across a regional e-agriculture strategy. I referred to the potential need for regional e-agriculture strategies after taking into account the fact most countries in the ACP region belong to regional economic groupings. For example in Africa you have ECOWAS (for West African Countries), SADC (for Southern Africa), COMESA (East and Southern Africa), East African Community (East Africa). There is also the Caribbean Community. One key objectives of these groupings is promotion of cross border trade, mainly in agricultural products. The same groupings are implementing regional ICT4D strategies (all encompassing strategies) (see draft strategy for CARICOM at  http://tinyurl.com/ae62up4) or regional agricultural information systems such as the ECOWAS Agricultural Information System (ECOAGRIS) (see a very summary in French - http://tinyurl.com/akz8tqc) . In my view, regional ICT initiatives in agriculture should address priorities identified at the regional level. Regional strategies are also likely to guarantee coherence in  approaches and efficient utilization of available resources in the region. Regional strategies could also in a way help countries that may not have developed national e-strategies in the sense that their needs could be taken into account, especially if development of these strategies is done in a truly participatory way.

Hi Wsenyo,

What do you think could be the reasons for ad hoc approaches to e-agriculture strategies by some governments? How could these be addressed?

Hi Balaba,

I agree with you on the need for ICT integration and the role that community radio could play in the dissemination of information to farners. Attention should be paid to this form of ICT. Afterall, the United Nations ICT Task Force defines ICT as encopassing the "old" ICTs of radio, television and telephone, and the "new" ICTs of computers, satellite and wireless technology and the Internet" (see http://tinyurl.com/d533y8q). Therefore, integration of ICT in agriculture is crucial.

Greetings all,

I am Justin Chisenga, FAO knowledge and Information Management Officer based at the Regional Office for Africa, in Accra, Ghana.

Indeed, we need national e-agriculture strategies and there are several reasons for this.  First and foremost, the agricultural sector competes for funding from the central government with other sectors. A strategic approach to ICT in sector is more likely to guarantee some funding from the government. Secondly, are several stakeholders in the agricultural sector. In addition to Governments, we have the civil society, the international development organizations and of the course the private sector. All these stakeholders are involved in ICT-based initiatives in the agricultural sector. A national e-agriculture strategy could bring some coherence to the ICT initiatives which could include a focus on the identified ICT problem areas and priorities for the sector by the stakeholders.

Considering that ICT has no respect for boundaries/borders, we also need regional e-agriculture strategies.